random ramblings: Homeward bound, and after

I didn't sleep too well in the Days Inn lodge, we didn't rush too much, but when we came to leave, we did as we have always done, drove round the back of the lodge, and up to the barrier to be let out onto the side road which goes under the motorway to the Northbound side, except that this time we were not allowed to. The chap said we couldn't do it, it was not permissible, health and safety, etc etc. we have done it on and off for over 20 years. Husband begged to differ having been on a health and safety course, and having been responsible for it in the Borehamwood office and the Bristol office.
We used that route last year, the manager claimed we couldn't have done and so it went on, but he refused point bank to lift the barrier, he claimed it was a private road, so in the end we had no choice but to turn around drive out of the services then back to the next junction, and off and back again to the North bound carriage way. We left at the next junction, and stopped at Cartgate picnic area for our usual bacon bap breakfast. It rained on and off on the way home, very heavy downpours. We had quite a good journey, not too bad when we got to the M3, and M25, we arrived home at about 1.30 pm.
We unpacked the car, then got together the shopping bags,and went to Sainsbury's, had lunch in their cafe and stocked up on food.
The garden was a bit over grown, the ceanothus was in full bloom, rhubarb and blackcurrant bushes overhung the path,and the honeysuckle still in bloom, had put out tendrils across the front door.
The weather wasn't too good all weekend, it wasn't easy with all that washing to do. We were welcomed back at church, where one of the preachers had been replaced, as he had a bad case of sciatica. The week was fairly quiet, husband had a dental appointment, he had lost a filling, but now has to have it replaced with a crown, I went back to WW, had put on one pound for each of the weeks I had been absent. I was on duty at parent and toddlers, but the numbers were small.

Ceanothus

I missed women's hour as Daughter wanted to come round and use my sewing machine to do the button holes for her dress. We minded the children, whilst she sewed, and we took them out into the garden later; Nat had been asleep when they arrived and at one point Lydia joined him.
I made up the spare bed, and our son and his wife arrived late on the Thursday evening. They stayed overnight, with Tom, then the next day we left Tom in the house and drove them to Heathrow, we left at 3pm, a journey of 23 miles, but the M25 was awful, there was a lorry on fire somewhere and this was holding the traffic up. Son worked out a route which would get us there quicker, but there was a delay as we had to cross a busy main road with traffic lights
We dropped them off at 5 pm, check in time was 5.40, their flight 6.05 pm. We dashed off to try and find a services, needing a comfort stop. We went off on the M40, to Beaconsfield services, then afterwards relaxed for a while with a drink, then set off home on A roads, which was a bit more relaxing. Husband tracked their flight to the South of France, where they were celebrating 5 years of marriage, in the place where they had their honeymoon, as Daughter said, 'enjoy your last kid free holiday'.
So we have had Tom for 2 weeks he is moulting so my carpet has a constant film of black hair on it, no matter how much I clean it. We have been doing plenty of walking, husband has been on 3 long walks, we have also had two outings to Ashridge Forest with Daughter and the children. I have only managed to lose half pound so far at WW.
We have had a couple of trips to the garden centre, one when we took lunch, and I had a M&S Italian coffee flavoured milk, which produced the same effect as the coffee in Falmouth. We renewed the car tax, minded the children again for a short while, with an over excited toddler shrieking at the dog, I had to send Tom into the hall out of the way.


Lydia gives her opinion

Lydia zonked, in her new dungarees

Nathaniel zonked

Lydia in the garden

playing together

Lydia standing

The weather has been mixed, I topped up my tan last weekend, and now we are allegedly going into a 2-3 week heatwave. I'll believe it when I see it. we have spoken to Mum in law, a few times, she seems fine, but tired, but is determined to plant beans! Honestly, what would you do with her? We must arrange a visit soon, when Tom has gone home. He is a lovely dog, one day I walked him into town, and met 3 friends, all fell in love with him. We have bathed him once as he got hot chasing the ball and jumped in the canal, husband had to help him out, what fun!